multiplayer online games with friends
Intech Investment Management LLC Invests $800,000 in Arcellx, Inc. (NASDAQ:ACLX)TORONTO, Nov. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This Sunday, December 1, on World AIDS Day, and the start of Indigenous AIDS Awareness Week, the 27 th annual Friends for Life Bike Rally launches its Holiday Season Fundraising Campaign. As local AIDS Service Organizations see a significant increase in demand for their life-changing services, the fundraiser aims to raise $50,000 in December – a month of generosity and giving from coast-to-coast-to-coast. The Friends for Life Bike Rally is Canada's longest-distance annual charity cycling event from Toronto to Montreal, raising funds for the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA) , AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM) and Trellis HIV & Community Care (formerly HIV/AIDS Regional Services – Kingston) to support to those living with HIV/AIDS and fight stigma. The upcoming Friends for Life Bike Rally aims to raise a total of $1.8M by the end of its next charity ride that runs from August 3 to 8, 2025. Recent research shows that an estimated 1,833 new HIV infections occurred in Canada in 2022. This means that almost five people were infected with HIV in Canada every day. These are new infections that do not account for newcomers to Canada, immigrating with HIV – a population that makes up a large portion of new community members seeking HIV related services. Thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS rely on the vital services offered by PWA, ACCM and Trellis such as: Financial assistance Wellness programs Health and therapeutic care Social supports Harm reduction Food banks and more Unfortunately, on October 4, 2024, PWA – Canada's largest – was forced to temporarily close its Financial Assistance Program until March 2025 due to the increased demand caused by inflation and the rise in cost of living. The agency has also reported a substantial increased demand for access to its food bank and essentials market services. Services offered by PWA, ACCM and Trellis ensure our at-risk communities have access to the resources they need to improve their health outcomes. The Friends for Life Bike Rally and its volunteers, cyclists, and crew invite new and returning donors to show some extra generosity, compassion and understanding this holiday season. Your support for charitable causes that matter to you creates a ripple effect, spreading hope and making a meaningful difference in the lives of so many. Together, we can help foster positive change for those in need. These people could be your friends, family, loved ones, neighbours and/or colleagues. Next Tuesday, December 3, also marks Giving Tuesday, the world's largest generosity movement and opportunity to unleash the power of people to transform communities. Everyone has something to give and every act of generosity counts. Those who are able are encouraged to make a tax-deductible donation to the Friends for Life Bike Rally. Here's how you can make an impact: $40: Provides ten community members with transportation to medical appointments $60: Funds a peer-led support group for people living with HIV $100: Support a community member with access to medication $200: Ensures one family has groceries for a week To learn more about the Friends for Life Bike Rally, visit BikeRally.org . Quotes: "On World AIDS Day on December 1 or Giving Tuesday on December 3, also known as the "opening day of giving season," we invite folks to show support for people living with HIV/AIDS and make a tax-deductible donation to the Friends for Life Bike Rally. Your generosity over the holidays will help support the life-changing services offered by PWA, ACCM, and Trellis. When we work together, we ensure community members can access much-needed support, and build a stronger, more resilient community." – Ariel Benibgui (He/Him) , Co-Chair, Friends for Life Bike Rally "Each and every year, we proudly ride to make a positive difference because of /AIDS behind. The magic of the Bike Rally is magnificent. It's a force and power of love, truth and healing where we care for the family of HIV/AIDS. Your donations make sure that clients can pay for things like their transit fare to access programs and services, the money to fix a broken phone, or ensure they get language support for essential health care so they can communicate with their doctor, and so much more." – Suzanne Paddock (She/Her), Executive Director, Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA) "As a community member, the financial assistance I've received has been more than just support, it's been a lifeline. It's meant having the resources to get to essential appointments, access nutritious food and feel a sense of dignity and belonging. Your generosity doesn't just provide services... It transforms lives, strengthens our community and gives people like me the opportunity to thrive." – Anonymous Community member, Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA) Quick Facts: The Friends for Life Bike Rally is Canada's annual longest-distance cycling fundraiser in support of those living with HIV/AIDS Since 1999, the Friends for Life Bike Rally has: Raised $27.5M+ to support those living with HIV/AIDS Had 5,550 cyclists 2,200 crew volunteers to support the ride In 2024, the Friends for Life Bike Rally raised $1.6M HIV remains a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 40 million lives with ongoing transmission globally The virus has infected 88.4 million people worldwide An estimated 65,270 people have HIV in Canada An estimated 89 per cent are diagnosed 85 per cent of those diagnosed are on treatment 95 per cent of those on treatment have achieved viral suppression and cannot transmit the virus (undetectable=untransmutable) Toronto has seen a sustained increase in reported HIV infections since 2016 (with the exception being during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a decrease in sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing) Media Inquiries: media@bikerally.org Image: Hundreds of cyclists cross the finish line in Quebec after six days of riding from Toronto to Montreal for the 2024 Friends for Life Bike Rally, as the city saw its wettest day in history caused by rain from Tropical Storm Debby. About Friends for Life Bike Rally: Founded in 1999, the Friends for Life Bike Rally is the largest annual cycling fundraiser in Canada that brings people together for an inclusive, supportive and life-changing challenge that inspires much-needed help for people living with HIV/AIDS. Funds raised by the annual charity event support three AIDS Service Organizations (ASOs) along the cycling route, including the Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA), AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM) and Trellis HIV & Community Care. In 2025, the Friends for Life Bike Rally will celebrate its 27 th anniversary and will take place from August 3 to 8. There are virtual, 100 km and 300 km options, as well as the classic 600 km ride to Montreal. About Toronto People with AIDS Foundation (PWA): PWA is the founding agency of the Friends for Life Bike Rally. The agency was established in 1987 and is the largest practical service provider for people living with HIV/AIDS in Canada. The community-based organization offers a range of life-changing services, including direct financial assistance, wellness programs, health and therapeutic care, social supports, a food bank/essentials market and more. PWA aims to improve the quality of life for individuals affected by the HIV epidemic in Toronto and beyond. It is committed to reducing stigma and ensuring that individuals living with HIV/AIDS have access to the resources they need for better health outcomes. About AIDS Community Care Montreal (ACCM): ACCM is Quebec's only HIV and sexual health community organization that provides education for prevention, treatment information, and support services to anglophone and allophone communities. The voices of our members are central to ACCM's guidance, and we work in collaboration with our many communities to build a compassionate and caring response to HIV and hepatitis C. About Trellis HIV & Community Care: Since 1988, Trellis HIV & Community Care (formerly HIV/AIDS Regional Services – Kingston) has been addressing the social determinants of health by providing practical supports, drop-in services, facilitating access to testing and primary health care for communities who are often marginalized and stigmatized. These include people living with HIV, the 2SLGBTQ+ community, people experiencing poverty and homelessness and people who use substances. Providing support while confronting stigma is at the core of what Trellis strives to do. Based in Kingston, Ontario, their service area is Belleville to the west, Brockville to the east, and Sharbot Lake to the north. Stay connected: Follow the Friends for Life Bike Rally on Facebook , Instagram , and YouTube . Proudly riding to make a positive difference. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/40a30ca7-5beb-457d-a65c-09c50656c653 © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.Providence, Oklahoma hope key players are back in Bahamas
Murdoch loses 'Succession' battle for son's control of media empire: report
US effort to curb China's and Russia's access to advanced computer chips 'inadequate,' report finds
Impress Computers Wins Prestigious MSP Titan Award for Outstanding IT Service ExcellenceCalgary Flames (12-8-4, in the Pacific Division) vs. Pittsburgh Penguins (9-12-4, in the Metropolitan Division) Pittsburgh; Saturday, 7 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Penguins -122, Flames +101; over/under is 6 BOTTOM LINE: The Calgary Flames enter the matchup against the Pittsburgh Penguins after losing three in a row. Pittsburgh is 9-12-4 overall and 5-6-2 at home. The Penguins have conceded 96 goals while scoring 65 for a -31 scoring differential. Calgary is 12-8-4 overall and 3-5-4 in road games. The Flames have a 4-7-1 record in games they serve more penalty minutes than their opponents. The matchup Saturday is the second time these teams meet this season. The Flames won 4-3 in a shootout in the previous meeting. TOP PERFORMERS: Sidney Crosby has eight goals and 16 assists for the Penguins. Bryan Rust has four goals and three assists over the last 10 games. Story continues below video Rasmus Andersson has five goals and nine assists for the Flames. Mikael Backlund has scored three goals and added one assist over the last 10 games. LAST 10 GAMES: Penguins: 4-4-2, averaging 2.3 goals, four assists, 3.4 penalties and 7.1 penalty minutes while giving up 3.7 goals per game. Flames: 5-3-2, averaging 2.1 goals, 3.4 assists, 3.9 penalties and 9.5 penalty minutes while giving up 2.2 goals per game. INJURIES: Penguins: None listed. Flames: None listed. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP — The Stockton University esports team will compete for Garden State Esports Collegiate Circuit titles after beating other local schools last week at an in-person competition on campus. The Ospreys’ "Rocket League" team defeated Camden County College and Rowan University, and the "Super Smash Bros." team beat Camden County College and Atlantic Cape Community College, Stockton said Wednesday in a news release. With the victories, both teams won the GSE South Conference and advanced to the Garden State Esports Collegiate Cup finals Feb. 22 at ACX1 Studios in Atlantic City. In "Rocket League," Stockton will face Brookdale Community College, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Kean University, and in "Super Smash Bros." the Ospreys will compete against Rutgers-New Brunswick, Brookdale and NJIT. Sophomore "Rocket League" player Michael Parker loved the in-person experience of playing other schools in the esports lab and at Stockton’s Lodge at Lakeside, the university said. When is Mike Trout's Vineland golf course scheduled to open Somers Point man killed in two-vehicle crash in Egg Harbor Township Egg Harbor Township installing 4-way stop signs at troubled intersections Van Drew says drones seen hovering near the Salem County nuclear plants LIVE UPDATES: Murphy says new systems to track drone activity in NJ 3 local wrestlers win titles at Southern Regional’s Robin Leff Tournament Na'cho Taco celebrates grand opening in Margate with giant burrito Bridgeton nursing home barred from Medicaid after NJ comptroller finds fraud and abuse Latest on New Jersey mystery drones: White House officials say there is no threat Atlantic City now has more weed shops than casinos with dozens more on the way 14 arrested following drug operations in Atlantic City Pleasantville votes to file complaints against police chief, officer over council spat UPDATED What we know, what we don't know about New Jersey's mysterious drone sightings What to know about the mystery drones flying over New Jersey Murphy pardons 33 and commutes 3 women's sentences in first use of clemency “It’s nice being able to see other people and play against them when they are like 10 feet away from you,” said the biology major from Hammonton. “That’s probably my favorite part about it all.” Parker said he’s followed Stockton’s esports team since he was a sophomore at Hammonton High School, when the university hosted a "Rocket League" event. Egg Harbor Township High School held ribbon-cutting ceremonies Wednesday for its new Esports Gaming & Design Center and Career and Technical Education Innovation Lab, as well as a "Day in the Trades" event. “I still have an original Stockton esports jersey,” he said. “I joined the team as soon as I got to Stockton as a freshman. It’s one of the best things I’ve done here.” This year’s "Rocket League" team also includes Nicholas Edwards, Anthony Roselli, Kevin Smith and Howard Haughton. Hayden Seiberlich, Andres Arteaga, Jackson Busza, Daniel Digioia, Justin Ritter, Trevor Smith and Jacob Hughes comprise the "Super Smash Bros." team. Hughes didn’t really know much about the esports team before trying out for it in his first semester at Stockton last year. “It’s made me have a lot of fun at college,” said the sophomore business administration major from Forked River. “There are so many cool things that come with it. The trips. The community. I’ve met so many people. We hang out all the time, and it’s just an amazing community to be a part of.” Hosting the Garden State Esports Collegiate Circuit competition last week also allowed Stockton’s esports team to reach out to high school gamers through a virtual interactive watch party on Twitch. “It was exciting to see college students from four universities compete on our campus, while our Stockton Esports leadership team interacted with high school students in such a unique and engaging way,” said Demetrios Roubos, the manager of Stockton’s esports program. “The addition of remote commentary from high school students was a first-of-its-kind experience that highlighted the bright future of esports. This event not only celebrated our competitive spirit but also reinforced Stockton’s role as an innovator in the esports community.” Contact Dan Grote: 609-272-7234 dgrote@pressofac.com Twitter @ACPress_Grote Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Print Director Author facebook Author twitter Author email {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.AP Business SummaryBrief at 3:15 p.m. EST
Kanye West’s Wife Bianca Censori Flaunts Her Curves in Skintight OutfitRupert Murdoch's audacious bid to cement his eldest son's control over one of the world's most influential media empires has failed, a US report said Monday. The first family of news -- commanding a stable that includes Fox News, The Wall Street Journal and a host of British and Australian media -- had been the inspiration for the hit TV series "Succession." Like the fictional version, this real-life fight pitted the children of a powerful patriarch against each other for who should be the face and the voice of the empire after the old man dies. Murdoch, now 93, had long intended that his children inherit the empire, and jointly decide its direction. The eldest daughter, Prudence, has had little involvement in the family business, but at various times the other three -- Lachlan, James and Elisabeth -- have all been considered as successors. But in recent years Murdoch senior had reportedly grown concerned that Fox News -- the crown jewels of the collection -- might drift away from its lucrative right-wing moorings after his death, to reflect the more centrist views of James and Elisabeth. He had therefore sought to designate Lachlan -- who currently heads Fox News and News Corp -- as the controlling player in the wider business. That had required rewriting the terms of an irrevocable trust that passed power to the four siblings jointly, stripping three of them of voting power, while allowing them to continue to benefit financially. Rupert Murdoch had argued that giving control to Lachlan -- who is understood to share his father's worldview -- was in the financial interests of the whole brood. The family intrigue played out behind closed doors in a Nevada courtroom, where Murdoch senior and his four children were understood to have given several days' evidence in September. In a decision filed at the weekend, probate commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr. said the father and son had acted in "bad faith" in trying to rewrite the rules, The New York Times reported, citing a copy of the sealed court document. The plan to alter the trust's structure was a "carefully crafted charade" to "permanently cement Lachlan Murdoch's executive roles." "The effort was an attempt to stack the deck in Lachlan Murdoch's favor after Rupert Murdoch's passing so that his succession would be immutable," the Times cited the ruling as saying. "The play might have worked; but an evidentiary hearing, like a showdown in a game of poker, is where gamesmanship collides with the facts and at its conclusion, all the bluffs are called and the cards lie face up. "The court, after considering the facts of this case in the light of the law, sees the cards for what they are and concludes this raw deal will not, over the signature of this probate commissioner, prevail." Murdoch's lawyer, Adam Streisand, did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment. The ruling is not final, and must now be ratified or rejected by a district judge. That ruling could be challenged, perhaps provoking another round of legal arguments. The complicated structure of the irrevocable trust reflects the colourful familial relationships that shaped Rupert Murdoch's life as he built the multibillion-dollar empire. The trust was reported to have been the result of a deal agreed with his second wife -- mother of Lachlan, Elisabeth and James -- who wanted to ensure her offspring would not be disenfranchised by children Murdoch had with his third wife, Wendi Deng. The Murdoch empire has transformed tabloid newspapers, cable TV and satellite broadcasting over the last few decades while facing accusations of stoking populism across the English-speaking world. Brexit in Britain and the rise of Donald Trump in the United States are credited at least partly to Murdoch and his outlets. hg/nro
Caoimhin Kelleher facing a familiar fate as Arne Slot gives a big hintAt "The House of Thrills" on Saturday, Mallory Torr picked up her first win as Sharon head coach as the Tigers defeated the Bulldogs in the consy contest. Sharon led 11-4 at the end of the opening quarter and 25-19 at halftime. Meadville cut the lead to 37-34 after three quarters. The Tigers put the game away by outscoring the Bulldogs 13-9 over the final eight minutes. Jamoria Crumby fired in 24 points to lead Sharon, Taylor Ragsdale-Holden scored eight, N'myia Griggs contributed seven points, and Jasmine McGee added six markers. Marlaya McCoy led the way for Meadville with 16 points and Jayda Gongaware chipped in seven points. "I'm very happy to get our first win of the season," said Torr. "I am proud of the way the team battled and we are looking forward to getting better each day." This will be updated as coaches submit stats to The Herald. Crumby 10-2-4-24, Clarke 1-0-0-3, McGee 1-4-4-6, Roberson 0-0-0-0, Griggs 2-1-2-7, Scott 0-0-0-0, Ragsdale-Holden 4-0-4-8, Amos 0-2-6-2. Crumby 2, Griggs 2, Clarke 1. J.Gongaware 2-3-6-7, Watkins 1-0-0-2, Lutern 1-4-6-6, Hall 2-0-0-6, McCoy 7-2-7-16, K.Gongaware 2-0-0-4, Stout 1-0-0-2. Hall 2.Analysis: Barkley is NFL's version of Ohtani
Trump brings back government by social mediaBanks rely on core tech to handle the basics: transactions, deposits, loans and more. But the kicker is that most of these systems were built decades ago. As in 1980, not 2010. Back then, “digital transformation” through the lens of a financial institution (FI) meant upgrading from a typewriter to a green-screened PC. But with the news that cloud-based core banking vendor Mambu has acquired Paris-based banking aggregation and payment automation platform Numeral , observers are hoping that the payments and banking sectors may be charting a new course: one that leads directly to the cloud. “Payments are at the heart of how companies do business around the world, yet they remain trapped in systems designed decades ago, unfit for the ongoing instant payments revolution. This is a problem that Mambu intimately understands having helped banks and financial institutions worldwide to migrate from rigid, traditional core systems to agile and adaptable cloud infrastructure,” Édouard Mandon , co-founder and CEO at Numeral, said in a release . Banks and payment providers are grappling with rapid changes in consumer expectations, competitive pressures from FinTech disruptors and an unrelenting pace of regulatory evolution. Customers, including businesses, now demand seamless, real-time digital experiences, from peer-to-peer transactions to embedded financial services. Meanwhile, the rise of real-time payment systems like FedNow® Service and TCH’s RTP® Network , as well as the growing adoption of other innovations, have further increased the urgency for modernization. While estimates show that between 83% to 91% of banks are now operating in the cloud, that still means that up to 17% of banks, and their key end-users, are potentially left operating without the scalability and integration capabilities necessary to compete. Read more: Making Sense of the Great ERP System Cloud Migration Why Core Tech Is Overdue for an Upgrade Banks can’t just slap on a shiny mobile app and call it a day. Without upgrading their core infrastructure, they are likely to keep falling behind. Legacy systems are not only expensive to maintain but often lack the agility required to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving marketplace. These systems were designed in an era before real-time payments, cloud computing and AI-powered analytics became critical components of financial infrastructure. “It’s an interesting time in the in banking and the payments industry,” said Michael Lozanoff , managing director, global head of merchant services for J.P. Morgan Payments , to PYMNTS. “Many of the systems we ran for decades have reached their shelf life . And one of the things we have done is learn from the past so we can build for the future. We have the unique opportunity to reinvent (banking infrastructure) and build it new — as if we started from scratch. As a result, that may require you to take really large systems and break them down into smaller pieces. Doing this allows you to then really understand which capabilities need to be the most scalable, resilient and fastest and figure out how to distribute them across the globe.” The payments and banking sectors are no longer competing only with each other but with the tech giants and FinTechs that are unencumbered by legacy systems. “It’s becoming an imperative to improve the operational efficiency at these legacy banks and be more responsive to client needs and industry trends,” Galileo Head of Product Strategy Michael Haney told PYMNTS. “As an ex-banker, I witnessed the dichotomy, where banks invested heavily in digital front-end solutions while their back-end systems lagged behind. This created a disconnect, limiting their ability to innovate rapidly.” Read more : How APIs Bridge Modern and Legacy B2B Payment Architectures The Power of Data in Payments Modernization PYMNTS Intelligence has found that in the era of digital and hyper-personalization, traditional FIs must look beyond offering one-size-fits-all solutions to compete with their FinTech rivals. Composable banking presents a viable solution , enabling FIs to mix and match services for a more agile banking infrastructure. While modular infrastructure addresses the “how” of payments modernization, the “why” is increasingly tied to data. For AWS Head of Payments Mark Smith , the ability to manage and extract value from large datasets is one of the most exciting aspects of payments modernization. “Payments are chock-full of data, and payment companies are continuing to find new and innovative ways to use that data,” he told PYMNTS. “The intersection of cloud and payments will provide faster, more reliable and more secure payments, with a lot more automation.” Real-time analytics, fraud detection and personalized customer experiences are just a few examples of how cloud-powered data management is helping to transform the industry. As the industry reinvents itself, collaboration between traditional banks, FinTechs and technology giants will be crucial. “Historically, it was just banks competing with banks. But increasingly, FinTechs and other disruptive entrants are leveraging solutions ... innovations and competitive offerings ... which can be costly and complex for banks to quickly stand up,” William Artingstall , global co-head of cross-border payments and receivables at Citi , told PYMNTS.
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Tahj Brooks ran for a season-high 188 yards and three touchdowns in the final home game for Texas Tech's all-time leading rusher, and the Red Raiders rolled to a 52-15 victory over West Virginia on Saturday. Texas Tech (8-4, 6-3 Big 12) kept alive faint hopes for a bid in the Big 12 championship game by winning at least eight games in the regular season for the first time since 2009 under the late Mike Leach. Garrett Greene threw an interception and lost a fumble on Terrell Tilmon's strip sack in the final three minutes of the first half as the Mountaineers (6-6, 5-4) raised more questions about the future of coach Neal Brown by falling behind 35-3 before the break. Behren Morton threw for 359 yards and two touchdowns, including a 31-yarder to Caleb Douglas to put Texas Tech in front 42-3 early in the second half. Josh Kelly had 150 yards receiving. Red Raiders coach Joey McGuire, who will have his third winning record in three seasons, called timeout with 5:57 remaining and his team leading 45-15 to take Brooks out of the game. Brooks was mobbed by teammates as the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Brooks ran for at least 100 yards in all 11 regular-season games he played, breaking the single-season school record of 10 he shared with Byron Hanspard and Bam Morris. Brooks pushed his career total to 4,557 yards in his first home game since breaking Hanspard's 1996 school record of 4,219 yards two weeks ago at Jones AT&T Stadium. Two of Brooks' TDs came on 2-yard runs from direct snaps, and the other was a 37-yarder when he stumbled on a cut but stayed on his feet and bounced off defensive back Ty French. Brooks has 17 TDs rushing this season and 45 for his career. Brooks set up one of his short TDs with a 30-yard catch. Jahiem White ran for 124 yards with a spinning 21-yard touchdown for West Virginia, and Greene had a 15-yard scoring toss to Rodney Gallagher III. Greene threw two picks. West Virginia: A perfect season on the road in the Big 12 ended with a thud. The Mountaineers were 3-0 away from home in conference before allowing 29 second-quarter points followed by another TD just 2:12 into the third. Texas Tech: Tight end Jalin Conyers, one of Brooks' fellow seniors playing his final home game, made up a for a dropped pass in the end zone with a juggling, diving catch for 18 yards to set up Morton's 1-yard scoring toss to Mason Tharp. Conyers, an Arizona State transfer, also had a 2-point conversion run on a swinging gate play from the PAT unit. Both teams are eligible for bowl games. At game's end, Texas Tech's fate for a spot in the Big 12 title game was still up in the air. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football
Both Oklahoma and Providence are hoping they'll have key pieces back in place when the two undefeated teams square off in the first round of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Wednesday in Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Friars (5-0) are expected to have Bryce Hopkins available, according to a report from Field of 68. Hopkins was averaging 15.5 points and 8.6 rebounds last season before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament Jan. 3. He returned to full-go practices last week, and Tuesday, Providence coach Kim English said Hopkins would be a "game-time decision" against the Sooners. "It's been a process," English said. "We're not rushing it." But English praised Hopkins' progress since the Friars' last game, Nov. 19, when Hopkins went through pregame warmups. "I thought he looked better than I remembered," English said. "He's been in our system for the past year. His patience, his understanding, his versatility on offense and defense ... it's been great to see him in practice." The Sooners (4-0) are hopeful that they'll get Brycen Goodine back. Goodine played for the Friars for two seasons from 2020-22 before transferring to Fairfield for two seasons and then to Oklahoma this offseason. Goodine suffered an ankle injury in the Sooners' opener Nov. 4 and has not played since. "He's a really tough kid and trying to push through it," Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. "It will truly be one of those game-time decisions. He hasn't gone a full practice yet, just been pieces of practices." Playing with Goodine and Jadon Jones, expected to be two of the Sooners' top outside shooters, Moser said he's learned plenty about his team's offense. "When you're down those shooters, it's really a great weapon to know that a lot of other guys can knock down the open shot," Moser said. "It's been a huge takeaway." The Sooners have been led by Jalon Moore, who is averaging 18.8 points per game, and freshman Jeremiah Fears, who is averaging 15.5. Providence has been led by senior guard Bensley Joseph, who is averaging 11.8 points and 4.0 assists per game. Oklahoma has not played a game closer than 16 points yet this season, with an average margin of victory of 24 points. Providence has won its five games by an average of nearly 17 points per game. The teams will square off against either Davidson or No. 24 Arizona in the second round Thursday, with the winners playing each other in one semifinal while the losers play in a consolation semifinal. --Field Level MediaCanucks visit the Red Wings after shootout win
On November 21, the Russian Armed Forces struck an area near a defense industry facility in Dnipro, Ukraine, with an experimental Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed in a video address the day after the attack that the Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile could not be intercepted: There are “no means of countering such weapons today. Missiles attack targets at a speed of Mach 10, which is 2.5 to 3 kilometers per second. Air defense systems currently available in the world and missile defense systems being created by the Americans in Europe cannot intercept such missiles. It is impossible." The claim is likely false. While hypersonic weapons present unique challenges to missile defense, experts and available evidence suggest that Putin’s claim is an exaggeration of the current technological realities. Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate reported that the Oreshnik missile was launched from Russia's Kapustin Yar 4th Missile Test Range in the Astrakhan region. The missile traveled for approximately 15 minutes before striking the city of Dnipro. The missile was equipped with six nonnuclear warheads, each containing six submunitions, and it achieved a speed of Mach 11 during its flight. The Pentagon has described the Oreshnik as a new, experimental intermediate-range missile derived from the RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile . Speed and maneuverability challenges Hypersonic missiles travel “at speeds greater than Mach 5” while maneuvering unpredictably, making them far more difficult to track and intercept than conventional ballistic missiles. Their speed and agility significantly cut the time defense systems have to respond, posing a serious challenge to current radar and sensor technologies. However, describing interception as “impossible” ignores ongoing advancements in missile-defense technology. Systems such as the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense are designed to counter fast-moving threats, including some hypersonic missiles. While not foolproof, these systems are continually being upgraded to address evolving threats. According to Fabian Hoffmann, a doctoral research fellow at the Oslo Nuclear Project, the U.S. and Israel possess anti-missile systems capable of shooting down an Oreshnik. “Systems like SM-3 from Aegis or Aegis Ashore, as well as most likely Arrow 3 and THAAD, can absolutely deal with this type of threat,” Hoffmann told CNN on November 22. Emerging countermeasures Several countries, including the United States, are developing technologies specifically aimed at countering hypersonic threats. Key initiatives include: Testing and real-world evidence Despite Putin’s claim, Russia has not provided conclusive evidence that the Oreshnik missile is operationally deployed or that it has been tested in conditions replicating modern Western missile defense environments. So far, Russia has used Oreshnik once and against a country that does not have Western air defense systems capable of shooting down hypersonic missiles. According to Maxim Starchak , an expert on Russian nuclear policy and strategic weapons, Moscow tends to exaggerate its capabilities and “itself may not actually know if air defense systems can intercept this [Oreshnik] missile. These claims remain unsubstantiated without tests or real combat attempts to shoot it down.” Previous tests of Russian hypersonic weapons, such as the Avangard glide vehicle , have demonstrated capabilities but also faced skepticism regarding their real-world applicability and effectiveness. Furthermore, the United States and its allies have conducted successful interceptions of fast-moving targets in controlled environments. For example, tests of THAAD and Aegis systems have demonstrated their ability to intercept medium-range ballistic missiles, albeit inconsistently against hypersonic targets. Other Russian hypersonic missiles ‘impossible to intercept’ Putin’s statement fits a pattern of emphasizing Russia’s advanced military capabilities to assert strategic dominance and influence international perception. Previously, he made similar claims about the impossibility of intercepting other weapons systems, including the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile and the Zircon hypersonic missile. Despite Russian claims that the missile is on "combat alert," the Sarmat has faced significant setbacks since its 2022 flight test, with four failed launches, the latest occurring on September 21, 2024 . The Zircon missile, capable of reaching speeds up to Mach 9, is one of the fastest hypersonic weapons. Nevertheless, when Russia launched two Zircon missiles at Kyiv on March 25, according to Ukrainian sources, both were intercepted by air defense systems. Photographs of missile debris were later published. Ukrainian officials, including Major Illia Yevlash, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, assert that systems like the Patriot and the SAMP/T can destroy the Zircon in its terminal phase, slowing to Mach 4.5, a view supported by Western analysts such as former Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe. “The good news is that in missile warfare, especially dealing with Russian weapons, ‘claimed’ and ‘actual’ capabilities are often very different. ... Is Zircon an undefeatable superweapon: no. Is learning how to counter it difficult, yes,” Sharpe wrote April 3 in The Telegraph .600+ Works by Met Workers Go on View in Largest-Ever Staff Show
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